Page 20 - 2019 01 BSF Magazine_v3

BSF Interviews Robert Pinder, Dragon Tree Bonsai

With the final season of Game of Thrones soon to air, lots of people will be interested in dragons. Yet for many

years, Florida bonsai has had its own Dragon at Dragon Tree Bonsai in Stuart, the domain of Robert Pinder.
Robert Pinder has been offering select and beginning bonsai trees to Florida growers for several 20 years. He has
an amazing ability to grow a wide variety of specimens and has pioneered several interesting techniques, such as
growing Bald Cypress trees in a partially flooded moat (Maybe the moat is channeling the castles and dragons
). Dragon Tree is a full-service nursery that offers trees, supplies, pots, classes and bonsai care. If you haven’t
been maybe this interview will make you decide to visit.

Robert Pinder (r) receives a BCI excellence award from former BCI President Rob Kempinski for a wonderful
Florida Hackberry a few years ago
BSF: Please tell us a little bit about yourself? What was your career, was it always bonsai?
How long have you been doing bonsai?

PINDER: I am of Bahamian heritage. My parents had a chicken farm and Dad grew cut
flowers (mums), potted flowering plants and landscape plants. I graduated from Florida
Southern in Lakeland FL with a degree in business management / horticulture. I moved to
the Stuart area in 1976 and started a wholesale nursery. My three children are my greatest
joy and I love what I do.

20